One of the worstMASHepisodes tried to force the drama so much that it forgot the show is also supposed to be funny. Fans of this legendary sitcom are divided on how it evolved.MASHran for 11 seasonsin total, and there were some big tonal changes in that time. It transitioned from being a wild sitcom with an anti-war message into a sometimes deathly serious dramedy. The very best outings were able to balance these tones, thoughMASH’sbest episode “The Interview"is also borderline gag free.
It ultimately comes down to personal preference, butMASH’svarious actor exitsand its willingness to experiment kept the show a hit for over a decade. Of course, it also ran for over 250 episodes, meaning it had to weather some dud outings. Alda’s least-favorite episode from season 1, for instance, involved a silly treasure hunt scheme. The season 4 episode “Hawkeye” is highly divisive too, since Alda’s title character is the only cast member to appear and never shuts up the whole time.
“Fallen Idol” Is The Worst MASH Episode Directed By Alan Alda
This season 6 episode got the famous MASH dramedy balance all wrong
The final season aside,MASHhad to crank out over 20 episodes per season. Even with the best of intentions, some of those are bound to be underwhelming or force a premise because they’re run dry of good ideas.Alan Alda himself wrote and directedMASH’s"Fallen Idol”, which is one of season 6’s worstoutings. This isn’t down to the acting or that the concept is too farfetched, but rather because it makes most of the cast weirdly combative just to make the premise work.
… thisMASHepisode sees Hawkeye and Radar resolve their differences by the end, but it feels like the only way this plot works is because it requires everyone to act out of character.
“Fallen Idol” opens with Radar being wounded after Hawkeye encourages him to take some R&R. The guilt-stricken surgeon later drinks to excess, to the point that he’s unable to do surgery the next morning. Once Radar hears this, he becomes oddly judgmental and berates him, with a furious Hawkeye then yelling at him. While thisMASHepisode sees the two resolve their differences by the end, it feels like the only way this plot works is because it requires everyone to act out of character.
Alan Alda’s Least Favorite MASH Episode Is A Harsh Reminder Of Why It Came So Close To Cancellation After Just 1 Season
Alan Alda’s least favorite episode of MASH comes from season 1, and its quality underlines why the classic sitcom came so close to being canceled.
Radar and Potter (Harry Morgan) are weirdly critical and self-righteous towards Hawkeye, in ways they never usually would be.It’s also odd that the uptight Charles (David Ogden Stiers) would force Hawkeye to perform surgery, even though he’s perfectly aware he’s still drunkand thus shouldn’t be anywhere near a scalpel. Naturally, B.J. (Mike Farrell) is the only calm voice, but it’s still a plot where everybody feels they must be yelling at Hawkeye at all times, who in turn gets extremely agitated at being yelled at.
Alan Alda Directed 32 Episodes Of MASH
Hawkeye was a big creative voice on MASH
WhenMASHbegan, it was intended as a two-hander between Hawkeye and Wayne Roger’s Trapper, just like in Robert Altman’s 1970 movie. It soon became clear Alda was the show’s breakout star, with Rogers leaving after season 3 because he felt his role being lessened.Alda would also become a key creative voice behind the scenes, helping to shape stories and the general direction of the show. Alda directed 32 episodes ofMASHtoo, including divisive ones like “Dreams.”
MASH’s protagonists might be flawed but they’re not dumb either, so the drama at the heart of “Fallen Idol” rings false because of how they’re portrayed.
He also helmed some great episodes, like the literally haunting “Follies of the Living - Concerns of the Dead,” where the ghost of a dead soldier walks around camp. It’s easy to see what Alda saw in “Fallen Idol,” but it was approached from the wrong angle. If anything,the focus should have been on Hawkeye’s alcoholism and how it affects his performance in surgery, with the character having to reckon with his addictions.
Instead, it is a strange morality tale that sacrifices humor for unearned pathos. If one character involved acted like a grown-up, there wouldn’t be any conflict at all.MASH’sprotagonists might be flawed but they’re not dumb either, so the drama at the heart of “Fallen Idol” rings false because of how they’re portrayed.
Wayne Rogers later fronted his own medical sitcomHouse Calls, which ran for three seasons.
“Fallen Idol” Underlines Why MASH’s Comedy & Drama Balance Was So Tricky
Dramedy is no laughing matter
The shock death of Henry Blake in season 3 helped transform the show. This was one of the first times a major character had died on a television show, and audiences just weren’t prepared for it. Now, this season 3 finale wasn’t the first timeMASHhad mixed laughs with tragedy, but it was the most potent. From season 4 onwards, it would balance the light with the dark, where the witty gags could give way to heartbreak within seconds.
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WALTE*R(TV Pilot)
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“Fallen Idol” is an example of how hardMASH’sdramedy formula could be to nail. There are jokes in there, but everything feels so heavy-handed that they never land. The dramatic side doesn’t work either, because again, Alda is pushing a story that just doesn’t work, and it makes Hawkeye and Radar look childish and petty. If anything, this season 6 episode highlights what a miracle the show was, since its success rate was typically so high.
MAS*H
Cast
MAS*H is a drama-comedy series set during the Korean War, centering on the lives of the staff at the 4077th Mobile Army Surgical Hospital as they navigate the challenges of wartime medical service with humor and resilience.
